Trojans Picked First In Preseason Coaches Poll

Jan 25, 2018

HIGH POINT, N.C. - The University of Mount Olive baseball team was picked to finish the 2018 season first in the conference standings as released by the Conference Carolinas office on Thursday afternoon.

The defending Conference Carolinas champions were picked first with 67 points and four first-place votes. The top three consisted of UMO, Belmont Abbey (65), and North Greenville (60).

The Trojans claimed the 2017 Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship title as they went 48-10 overall and 25-2 in Conference Carolinas action claiming their 15th championship. The NCAA Division II Tournament appearance was the eighth consecutive appearance since 2010 for Mount Olive. Mount Olive was also ranked as high as No. 1 in NCAA DII last year.

Mount Olive returns 23 players, including 2017 D2CCA All-American First Baseman Drew Ellis, to the 2018 squad. Head Coach Carl Lancaster has also added 22 new faces with an even mix of freshmen and transfers to the Trojan dugout this season.

UMO opens their season on February 3, at 12 p.m., when they travel to Greenwood, S.C., to take on the Bearcats of Lander University in a doubleheader.